Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-30
AN ABLE SPEECH.
The state superintendent OF Education
Addresses the C0iored People On
an Important Topic.
The CoIored People OF Texas Make Good
Showing by Comparison with Other
ssates-some Sound suggestions

seates-some Sound suggestions.
The following address was delivered
Yesterday by Hon. o. 81. Cooper at the /
Colored State Fair. It is scholarly and
logical presentation Of some ve'y import
ant truths of interest for the negro race
TO know thoroughly. Alter some COM
plimentsry words by wsy OF preface Mr..
Cooper said:
OPENING REMARKS.
It was happy thought on the part OF
the directors of the first colored fair held
in the state OF Texas to set apart one day
# its interesting exercises to the inter-
ests of the children. The material
growth, of which this fair is memorable
expression, would be incomplete without
the Gro Wnlug feature Of day devoted to
expressing and strengthening the intel
lectual and moral side OF your progress
educational day. It gives me great
pleasure to be able TO con-
sratulate you on the grand sue
cess which you have made of this ex-
cellent feature of your interesting pro-
sramme. Your success in this respecs i
| typical OF the admirable progress which
YOUR race is making under the benign
| influence of the public school system OF
the state Of Texas. You are perhaps not
aware of your superiority in this respect
to members of your race in other states
A careful examination Of the reports OF
J other states in which your race forms
a considerable element Of the pop
ulation reveals the fact that educstionally
the colored people Of Texas are in g better
condition to-day than in any other state,
and l might add in any na'ion in the
world. Your teac ers receive better ssla'
ries, and your children have better school
facilities than anywhere else. Your
country schools compare favorably Witt
Inc country schools of any other stat
having q large population, and your city
.chuols are as good as the best. Th'
great state of Texas apprecia' es her col
ored population, ard is doing as much 10
the education of the colored children a.
for the education of the white children
[ am gla / to be able to say that the col
. ored people Of the state are showing
most commendable interest In the educa
ton of their children. This is clearl
shown by the large enrolment OF tn
colored children in the schools. Otfic1e
records in the Department. of Education
! at Austin show that rs per cent. of tn
colored children wibhin the scholasii
age attended school during the last schc
lastic year The significance CT thi
), fact becomes apparent VINE
n we find that in Virgin
- only Il per cent of the colored scholasti
population were enrolled in schools,
OHIO only 81 per cent. OF the entire scho
. astic population both white and colore
4 we're enrolled, and in New York oDlV
Il per cent.
n The colored children OF Texas go
= school better than the children in state
8 like New York and Ohio, which have lor
J. vaunted their superiority to Texas In e.
T. ncation! All we ask in Texas Is to De
% lowed to work our own system IN o.
ir own way
In this desire of education which d
p. taken such strong possession OF 20
a. race, I discern, however, two serious de
u gers, against which deem it my duty
it warn YOU to-day.
y l. You are In danger OF mistaking Il
real end CT education. There are tho
h. who teach that education will raise ne
- snd women above the necessity OF Wor
, Such teachers are charlatans and enemi
"a # the true interests of society. True G
n ucation does not raise men and WON
n ,bnve work, but II trains them to wo
b tier. II makes them capable OF wor
IN ing more intelligently, aud if 1t be SOUL
Az trainiug it will make them work INC
OF faithfully. All men must " TX II tn
earn an honest living. If they DO q
u. work they are beasts
prev who working men must So
at port or exterminate. Workers
n of two classes-brain workers 8
SO hand workers. OF these II
seI classes the hand workers must ever
4 by far the largest class. The hand wor
.w ers need Intelligent minds as well
IN. skillful hands. and should be educate
rk The class of brain workers must ever
TIE q small one, but it, too, is essential
ed the progress of civilization, even OF n
n ter,el progress. But honest and skill
le manual labor is the proper calling
&C. most of the human race. It Is 3 no
he calling, which should be followed fal
nIs fully The man who plows an hon
nd furrow, or the woman who makes
+ic good cake Of bread deserves
m. gratitude OF aIl mankind The good I
no roH and cake of bread are as essential
To- the worlds civilization as the poems
= |
m Bewsre, then, of the so-called educati
ma which aims to raise above manual lab
nd Seek the education which will is TO
IN, form faithfully and well the duties
fhe whatever service you are called to II
ed der. rake or saoepegs maker, who
nd PRED to be som thing greater than
de. maker of shoepegs. once asked Napol'
si. what he should do to become famo
,si. Napoleon replied: snake the best sht
It'll prgs In France" So L would
ri, 70 you, if you are 10 q
th 1rapch of service, private or pub
III. render the most faithful and sklllfdl sc
lies ice OF which you are capable. Sol
81 and correct education will DIT you to Il
isit Sound education is moral, mental
physical. Sound moral education trS
In habits of honesty, chastity and lad
try Sound mental education clears
mind SO that 1t is able TO distlneu
fasehood from truth. 1t will prev